On Saturday, October 11, Dr. Wes Coffman '78 (left)) and Dr. Greg White '88 (right) were honored as the recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award at the Alumni Reception during the 2024 Fall Symposium and Alumni Weekend. The awards were presented by Dr. Erica Higginbotham '03, UKCD Alumni Association President (center).

Each year, alumni and friends of the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry are invited to nominate alumni as candidates for consideration to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Nominations are carefully considered by a special committee selected by the UK College of Dentistry Alumni Association. 

To be considered for the award, candidates must:

1. Have demonstrated a loyalty to the college;
2. Have shown excellence in the profession of dentistry;
3. Be recognized by peers for having reached and remained at the pinnacle of their field of dentistry; and
4. Have shown evidence of merit of work in their field of dentistry and Community leadership.

2024 Distinguished Alumni - Dr. Wes Coffman '78 

Upon graduating with a BS in Business from the University of Tennessee in 1968 (as a scholarship basketball player), Wes joined the US Army and served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and earned the Bronze Star. After being honorably discharged from the army, Wes entered the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry where he graduated in 1978.

After a successful career in private practice, Wes returned to his alma mater in 2016 to give back to the profession that provided him with so many great opportunities. First, Wes assumed the course director role for the Practice Management courses, revamping the program to reflect the experience that students would encounter when graduating.  Then, he also took on the Continuing Education Department, reinvigorating the program’s offerings. Finally, he assumed a new role as Director of Treatment Planning, where he created a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment planning that has been incorporated throughout the College. While undertaking all of these responsibilities, his main focus has remained on the students and preparing them for the “real” world by sharing his own experience.  An accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, he participated in the “Give Back A Smile” initiative, volunteering his time and experience to restore the smiles of abused and battered women.

In addition, to his many contributions to the education and clinical areas of the College, Dr. Coffman and his wife, Honorable Jennifer Coffman, have established an endowment to fund a scholarship for a 4th year DMD student who demonstrates a personal commitment to health and wellness.

2024 Distinguished Alumni - Dr. Greg White '88 

Upon graduating with a BS in Biology from Transylvania University in 1984, Greg entered the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry where he received numerous academic accolades, graduating at the top of his class in 1988. Greg immediately entered the post-doctoral orthodontics residency at UKCD, completing the program in 1991, and ultimately, joining two other orthodontists to establish White, Greer, and Maggard Orthodontics with offices across the Commonwealth.

Recognizing the increasing challenges facing traditional dental practitioners, coupled with growing dissatisfaction among solo and small group practices, Greg established PepperPointe Partnerships in 2017. PepperPointe Partnerships offers administrative support to combat the challenges practitioners face, create efficiencies and provide the support needed with non-clinical tasks, allowing practitioners to focus on what they do best – patient care. Greg’s foresight and intuition have provided practitioners with better entry and exit strategies; preserving and extending the legacy doctors spent decades building.

Not only has Greg contributed to the betterment of the dental profession, dental practice, and dental health throughout the Commonwealth, but he has also remained a staunch supporter of the College of Dentistry, as is evidenced by the White, Greer, and Maggard Simulation Laboratory – the first renovation of “D611” since 1997 – which helped put the College on par with other dental schools across the country!   Greg White has also served on the recent Kentucky Can Campaign Leadership Committee for Dentistry and is currently serving on the UK College of Dentistry Advisory Board.